Reversible hair trimmer



Oct. 28, 1952 w. M. MANsFn-:LD 2,615,244

REVERSIBLE HAIR TRIMMER.

Filed Jan. 24. 1949 QMIIIIMWIH Patented Oct. 28, 1952 REVERSIBLE HAIR TRIBIMER Warren M. Mansfield, Glendale, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cutter Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1949, serial No. 72,413

(c1. :ao- 31) 'z claims. 1

The invention relates to a reversible hair trims mer and more particularly to .a comb having an adjustable razor blade thereon, the blade being adjustable'to different positions on the comb for thinning the hair, for cutting hair of different lengths, or for shaving.

An object of the present inventionis to provide a hair trimmer wherein the opposite edges of a double edge razor blade are in similar operative relation respectively to two similar ksets of teeth on the trimmer, whereby the trimmer may be held in one hand while employing one cutting edge of the blade to'cut the hair at one side ofv the head while the trimmer may be held in the other hand to out the vhair at the other side of the head with the other `edge of the blade. in both cases the same side of the trimmer being toward the hair.

Another object is to provide a hair 'trimmer having a knob which is spaced from the trimmer itself and concealed in a handle in position to be embraced by the thumb and forenger, when held in either hand.

Another object is to provide a hair trimmer for a double edge razor blade having a mean position for thinning the hair with either cutting edge, the blade being adjustable 'to other positions as described above, with cooperating indicia between the blade holder and the bridge and with notations on the bridge to indicate the adjustment of the blade for its different purposes. Another object is to facilitate adjustment of the blade to correspond with the indicia and notations. Another object is to facilitate adjusting the blade in either'direotion by a denite amount without observing themovement of the blade or the indicia. These objects are accomplished by providing a knob having opposite sides `which extend slightly beyond thevopposite sides of the comb, the knob preferably being polygonal in shape with opposite flat sides whereby the operator can readily turn'the knob step by step to its desired adjusted position, the indicia corresponding to positions of theknob with its outermost flat sides parallel to and slightly raised above the sides of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair trimmer wherein the parts may be molded of plastic material and, vin particular, wherein the operating knob and its shaft are held in position by cementing the vcomb and a bridge piece together.

Certain features disclosed but not claimed herein are disclosedand claimed in Patentr2v,519954,

granted August 22, 1950, to Roy P. M. Davis, forI 2 Hair Cutting Comb, and in the Patent 2,461,444 issued February 8 1949.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a reversible hair trimmer according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the left end of the trimmer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of rthe arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view, principally with the bridge removed .as seen on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the directionv of the arrows.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are cross sectional views on lines of the corresponding numbers in Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the respective arrows, showing the bridge in place.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the hair trimmer I -is composed of four pieces of material preferably of molded plastic, namely, (1) a removable blade holder 2 and three other pieces ,j which are molded separately, namely, (2) the like the long slot II .and short slot l2 as shown' for set 9 and similar oppositely extending long and short slots I3 and I4 as shown for set I0.

The bridge 5 and .trimmer comb 3 are secured together, as later described, in spaced relation to provide a blade holder recess I5 having openings I6, I1 at its opposite sides so that the blade holder 2 and a conventional double edge razor blade I8 can be adjusted, inserted or removed in a direction lengthwise of the teeth of the sets 9, I0, hence the blade I8 can be adjusted inwardly of the teeth of one set and outwardly of the teeth of the other set as the teeth of the sets 9, I Il project in opposite directions. The blade holder 2 has an 'intermediate position as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the blade I8 is in position to thin the hair at either of the sets of teeth 9 or I0, as in that position the cutting edge I9 of the blade intersects all long slots like I'I in theset 9, with out intersecting thev short slots like I2. while the opposite cutting edge 20 intersects all long slots like I3 but not the short slots like |4. Fig. 6 shows the blade |8 in its intermediate position with cutting edge 20 intersecting long slot I3.

The blade holder 2 is movable in either direction from its mean position shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, '7 so that the blade will move inwardly of the teeth of the one set and outwardly of the teeth of the other set. The blade holder 2 is entirely removable out through the opening I6, in order to remove an old blade and replace it with a new one. 1f desired, the blade holder 2 and the blade may likewise be removed through the opening |1, although in the form shown in Fig. 4, the blade holder 2 has on its outer surface at one edge thereof a slot 25 and the bridge 5 has a cooperating projection 26 to limit the movement of the blade holder 2 out through the opening.|1, al.-`Vv though the stop formed by the slot and pin 25,

26 may be omitted if desired.

The opposite sides 21,28 of the outer end of the bridge 5 are parallel to each other and to the base lines of the teeth in the sets 9, I and spaced apart less than the width of the blade'holder 2, whereas the inner end 3| of the bridge 5 is as wide as the trimmer. The side 21 serves as an index line for a series of indicia 2 9 on the holder 2. The indicia 29 are graduated according to the amount which cutting edge I9 extends beyond its mean position, overthe teeth in the set 9. The side 28 serves as an index line for corresponding indicia 30 on the holder 2. Indicia 30 are similarly graduated according to the-projection of cutting edge 20 from its mean position, over the teeth in the set I0. Associated with each graduation of the indicia 29, 30 is a notation as indicated at 32 in Fig. 1 on the bridge 5 to indicate the cutting relation of each edge I9, 20 of the blade I 8 with its respective set of teeth 9, I0, for the various operations which the blade |8 can performV as indicated, namely, thin, cut long, cut medium, cut short, shave.

To facilitate the adjustment of the blade holder 2 to various positions corresponding to coincidence between an edge such as 21 and one of the indicia 29, the blade holder 2 is operated by a knob 1 which is molded integral with oppositely extending shafts 6, 42, the shaft 6 terminating in a pinion 43 which is molded integral with the shaft 6. 'I'he shafts 6, 42 and the pinion 43 have an axis which extends lengthwise of the handle 4 and the trimmer 3. The integral trimmer and handle 3, 4 at a point inwardly of the trimmer proper and at'the inner end and center of handle 4 is molded with a semi-cylindrical bearing depression 44 while bridge 5, see Fig. 9, is molded with a supplementary semi-cylindrical bearing depression 45. The shaft 6 and pinion 43 are rotatably supported in the bearings 44. 45. 'I'he shaft 42 at the other side of knob 1 is in axial alignment with shaft 6 and is rotatably supported in a semi-cylindrical bearing depression 46 molded in the handle 4 and in a supplementary semi-cylindrical bearing depression 41 molded in the bridge 5.

Between the bearing portions 45 and 41, the bridge portion 3| has, extending therethrough an aperture 50, see Figs. 3 and 8, and opposite thereto, the handle 4 has a companion through aperture extend slightly beyond the outer surfaces of the bridge 5 and handle 4. As shown in Fig. 8, the.

extend parallel to each other. The surfaces52- 'I'he knob 1 extends through the apertures 50 and 5| so that its opposite sides vbridge portion 3 I.

- 4 and 53 adjacent knob 1 are flat whereby the knob 1 is readily adjustable until its opposite sides are parallel with the adjacent sides of the trimmer. The blade holder 2 at its inner end has a laterally offset and inwardly facing rack 54 which is driven by the pinion 43. Opposite rack 54, the outer surface of the blade holder 2 is provided with anelongated. rectangular portion 55 which serves as a shoe riding inand guided by a corresponding groove 56 on the inner face of the The rack 54 extends parallel to the teeth in the sets 9 and I0 and the shoe or guide lug 55 and its groove 56 guide the blade holder and the blade for movement lengthwise yof the teethv in the sets 9, I0. The blade I8 is removably,y held rvon .the holder by means of two inwardly projecting lugs |00 and |0| on the inner l face of theholder. IvEach of the lugs |00, |0| has .Y parallel sides as shown at |02 and |03 for lug |00 in Fig. 4, these sides extending parallel to the length of the teeth in the sets 9, |0. The lug |00 slides in a groove |04 in the trimmer, this groove extending across the length of the tooth |05 and across the length of the opposite tooth |06, while lug 0| has'a similar groove 01 in the inner face of thev trimmer 3. The lugs |00 and |0| and their associated grooves 04 and |01,'respectively, do not assist in guiding the holder 2 and the razor blade |8for movement as above described, as grooves |04 and |01 are wider than lugs |00 and |0| and sole guiding is accomplished by shoe 55 riding in groove 56. l

Thevmiddle portion of the inner face of the comb 3 has an elongated cavity ||0 between bothv of thesets of teeth9 and I0 whereby the grooves |04 and |01 are discontinuous, being cut away at theirmiddl'e portion due tothe cavity I0. However, this does not' interfere with the operation of the device, as it is guided solely by the guide lug 55 and itsA groove 56while the outer end of the'razor blade rides on the fiat face of the inner face I I2 of the comb, and the inner end I3 of the blade rides on the inner flat face ||4 of the comb, the cavity I0 not extending outwardly into the iiat face |2 and* not extending inwardly into the'flat face II4. The cavities I0, 10,1|, 12 and the recess or cavities like 5 at the opposite sides of thehandle 4 hasten the cooling of the thermoplastic material whenv in the die and, hence, make-it possible to open the die quicker and remove the molded article. cavity |6 for the same purpose.

By rotating knob-1 suiciently so that the pinion arrives at the end of the rack 54, the blade holder is readily removed as above described. To

incidence of the graduations of the indicia 29 and` 30 with their respective index lines formed byv the sides 21 and 28, correspond to positions of knob 1 with an opposite pair of its polygonal sides parallel-with the outer surfaces 52, 53, respectively, of the trimmer. As shown, the knob 1 has six flat sides although some other even'v` number could be used.l -By making the knob of polygonal contour, it is possible to count the' number of flat sides which pass under the finger as thexknob i5 rotated and thereby keep a mental The knob 1 has an annular note ofthe extent of adjustment of theV razor blade, without looking at :the indicia 29, 30.

In order to removably hold the knob 1 in'the various positions of adjustment, one face of the knob is provided with radial notches like 6I, see Fig. 8, each such notch being radial and at right angles to the adjacent side like 62, with a cooperating pair of catch lugs 63 and 64, see. Fig. 3 which are in alignment for engagement with the notch like 6l and its radially opposite notch like 65. A spring is not necessary to urge the knob 1 to the right so that the notches like 6I, 65 will engage the lugs 63, 64, this being accomplished without a spring, by making the minimum width of the knob recess 50-5l, in a direction lengthwise of the trimmer, taking into account the fact that the lugs 63 and 64 reduce such width, substantially the same as' the width of knob 1. Hence, knob 1 has some friction drag while being rotated from one notch tothe next and readily stops when a notch like 6I engages one of the lugs 63, or 64 the radially opposite notch like 65 also engaging the other lug 64 or 63.

The bridge is held in place on the trimmer 3 as follows. The inner end of the handle 4 is provided with a number of recesses like 1D, 1 I, 12 to reduce the amount of plastic used and improve its flow in the mold. As will be apparent from Fig. 7, the inner face 13 of the trimmer 3 is flat and the razor blade I8 slides on it. This at portion 13 is shown as uppermost in Fig. 4 and due to the recesses 10, 1I and 12,the flat portion 13 is a rim having opposite flat sides 14 and 15 which have outer edges lying in the contour of the teeth in the sets 9 and I0, respectively. At the right end of the flat portions 14 and 15 the handle 4 has a raised portion 16 which is flat, and between them is a pair of shoulders 11 and 18. The bridge portion 3l mates with the flat portions 14, 15, 16. The inner end of bridge portion 3| has a rectangular recess 19, see Fig. 3, for` engagement with the shoulders 11 and 18 and for engagement with the flat portion 16. The shoulders 11 and 18 prevent the bridge 5 from shifting inwardly lengthwise of the trimmer. Around the aperture 50, molded integral with the bridge 5 are four lugs 8U, 8l, 82, 83 see Figs. 4 and 8, for engagement with corresponding recesses like 84, 85 molded in the handle 4. The blade holder 2 slides in a recess in the trimmer 3 which has an inwardly projecting lug 9D, see Fig. 3, at its outer end and the bridge 5 at its outer end has an inwardly projecting portion 9| which overhangs and merges with the outer end 92 and the lug 90 of the trimmer 3. To prevent lateral shift of the outer end of the bridge, as shown in Fig. 2, it is provided with oppositely extending arms 93, 94 which t in corresponding rectangular notches 91, 95 in the trimmer 3. Also the outer end of the trimmer 3 has an elongated U-shaped notch 96, see Fig. 4, and the outer end 9i of the bridge ts therein as shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the parts, plastic solvent or cement is applied to the pins 89 to 83 and their corresponding recesses like 84 and to the notches 91, 95 is d esired, the knob 1 is placed in the bearings 44, 46 of the handle 4 and the bridge 5 is moved into position and cemented in place, whereby the knob 1 is rotatably held in position as shown in the drawings, ready to removably receive and adjust the blade holder 2.

Various modications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

lclalm: 1. A hair trimmer comprising a comb embodying laterally spaced 'opposite sets of teeth having parallel base lines, a bridge on, and spaced from,f

said comb between said setsof teeth and providing a recess open at its opposite sides adjacent both of said opposite sets of teeth, a blade'holder slidably l fitting. `in said recess for movement lengthwise of said sets of teeth vsuch movement causing said holder to recede with respect to the teeth of one of said sets and correspondingly advance with respect tothe other of said setsrof teeth, a partial bearing support disposed in said bridge and a complementary bearing support inA said comb, a shaft extending lengthwise of saidi comb rotatably mounted in said bearing supports, a pinion inone end of said shaft, a cooperating rack on said blade holder, a guide slotfor said rack in said bridge, said holder having lugs for removably receiving a razor blade, said bridge having an aperture and said comb having an opposite aperture and said shaft having a knob one side of which projects through one of said apertures and the opposite side of which projects through said other aperture.

2. A hair trimmer according to claim 1 wherein the contour of said knob is polygonal with opposite flat sides, said blade holder having opposite sets oi' indicia cooperating with opposite sides of said bridge respectively and said bridge having cooperating notations indicating the cutting relation of the blade with said sets of teeth for different rotative adjustments of said knob when opposite ones of said flat sides are substantially parallel with the opposite sides of said comb.

3. A hair trimmer according to claim 1 comprising a handle longitudinally extending from said hair trimmer substantially in the plane of said sets of teeth, the tips of one of said sets of teeth lying substantially in the contour line of one side of said handle and thetips of the other set of teeth lying substantially in the contour line of the other side of said handle, said apertures and said knob being arranged inwardly beyond said hair trimmer at the inner end of said handle.

4. A cutlery comprising comb-and bridge members fitting together in spaced relation and providing a blade holder recess therebetween, a bearing having a portion thereof in the inner face of each of said members, an operating knob having a shaft iitting said bearing, said members having apertures through which the opposite sides of said knob project, a razor blade holder slidable in said recess, said comb member having vteeth for the blade, a pinion on said shaft and a rack on said holder for adjusting the cutting relation of the blade with said teeth.

5. Cutlery comprising comb and bridge members fitting together in spaced relation and providing a blade holder recess there between, said comb member having opposite sets of teeth, a blade holder slidable in said vrecess lengthwise of the teeth of both of said sets, aligned apertures extending through each of said members at one end of said blade holder recess, a bearing at each side of said aligned apertures, each of said bearings having a portion thereof in the inner face of each of said members, an operating lknob extending at opposite sides through said apertures, said operating knob having a shaft at each side thereof, each of said shafts fitting one of said bearings, one of said shafts having 7i a pinion, and a cooperating rack extending transversely of said blade holder, the operation of said knob serving to shift one side of said blade holder inwardly of one of said sets of teeth and thereby shift the other edge of said blade holder outwardly of the other` set of teeth.

6. Cutlery according to claim 5 wherein said rack faces inwardly of said blade holder, said -blade holder having an outer face having a transverse shoe, and a cooperating transverse guide slot in said bridge member.

7. A haircutting device for use with a blade comprising in combination a comb member hav' ing interspersed long and short slots on the same edge thereof and a blade positioning member vfor holding a cutting edge of the blade in operating position with respect to the slots, means vfor retaining the two members in operative position to each other, and adjusting means for allowing the blade positioning member to be moved from a position overlying both long and short slots WARREN M. MANSFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 856,172 Meehan June 4, 1907 895,429 Clauss Aug. 11, 1908 1,529,503 Plut Mar. 10, 1925 2,069,920 Keighley .Feb. 9, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,747 Great Britain of 1913 167,867 Switzerland May 16, 1934 589,585 Germany Dec. 11 1933, 

